VALDOSTA — Hot on the heels of a major hurricane that tore apart South Georgia last week, another, even more powerful storm should have much less of an impact on the region, meteorologists said.
Hurricane Milton rapidly intensified into a monstrous Category 5 hurricane — the top of the scale — Monday with sustained winds clocked at 175 mph. The National Weather Service’s forecast tracks show Milton crossing central Florida from west to east, hitting the Tampa area, crossing near Orlando and exiting into the Atlantic.
Just days ago, a Category 4 storm, Helene, headed north in the Gulf and slammed into Florida’s Big Bend region. Heading on a northerly course almost right up the I-75 corridor, Helene was still a Category 2 storm when it tore into Lowndes County, damaging and destroying homes and knocking out power to most of the county.
Milton is expected to make landfall Wednesday, said Felicia Bower, meteorologist-in-charge of the weather service’s Tallahassee, Fla., office.
“There won’t be much impact” in the South Central Georgia area ranging from Valdosta to Tifton to Thomasville, she said.
Rainfall in the area may run from only 1-3 inches, she said.
While South Georgia can expect only “fringe effects,” the area might get some strong winds, said Tom Kines, senior meteorologist with the private forecasting firm AccuWeather. Bower put possible wind speeds at 40 mph in gusts.
Mandatory evacuations have been ordered for many counties in central Florida. In 2017, when millions of Floridians fled north to escape the Category 5 Hurricane Irma, Lowndes County was flooded with refugees.
This time around, officials are asking those running from Milton to seek refuge further inland, as storm-battered Lowndes is running low on resources.
“The Georgia Emergency Management Agåency is asking our friends in Florida to seek shelter further north, such as Albany and Macon,” said Meghan Barwick, spokeswoman for Lowndes County.
While many state parks are ready to receive Florida visitors, some remain closed thanks to Hurricane Helene.